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De Luca began the youth career in Varese. He was the joint-top-scorer in 2011 Viareggio Youth Cup, along with Internazionale's Simone Dell'Agnello. He made his first team debut in a friendly match.[1] Since then he played 4 Serie B matches and scored 1 goal. He then became one of Varese's key players in the two following campaigns.

On 30 August 2012, De Luca joined Atalanta on loan for the 2012–13 Serie A season.[2] As part of the deal, Atalanta's Moussa Koné moved in the opposite direction.[3] He made his Serie A debut on 18 September, against Milan. His top flight goal came on 4 November, the last of a 2–1 away win over Sampdoria. He appeared regularly for La Dea, mainly as a backup to Germán Denis.

On 18 June 2013, Atalanta decided to buy him outright and activated the buyout clause in the loan deal. He went loaned to Serie B side Bari along with a teammate Matteo Contini on 20 July 2014.[4]

In 2011–12 season De Luca played once for Italy U21 Serie B team in October. On 9 November 2011, he scored one goal for Italy U20 in a 3–0 victory over Ghana.[7] He also started the next match, the fifth game of Four Nations Tournament against Switzerland; the unofficial friendly against "U21 Serie B team" in December 2011;[8] against Macedonia in January 2012; 6th match of Four Nations, against Germany in February 2012 and in April 2012 against Denmark.

In April 2012 De Luca received his first formal U21 call-up, De Luca already received a call-up to training camp in March[9] (which he played the practice match against Frosinone.[10][11]). Ciro Ferrara made an experimental squad without U21 regular.[12][13] After 2 players withdrew,[14] the team did not had Serie A players, but three players from the reserve team of the Serie A club[15] and 16 Serie B players. Despite inferior, Italy won Scotland 4–1.[16] De Luca played the match as the substitute of Nicola Sansone.